Written From the Field

If bed bug treatments were one-size-fits-all, my job would be easy. It isn’t.

In Central Virginia, we deal with everything from 1920s row homes to brand-new apartments, short-term rentals, college housing, and multi-unit buildings where bed bugs don’t respect lease lines. The biggest mistake people make is assuming the fastest-sounding option is always the best one.

It’s not.

Both heat treatment and Aprehend work extremely well—when used in the right situation. Choosing the wrong one can mean reinfestation, wasted money, or spreading the problem further.

Let’s break this down the way we do on real inspections.

How We Decide Which Treatment to Use

We don’t start with the treatment. We start with:

• How widespread the activity is
• Whether neighboring units are involved
• How cluttered the space is
• Whether the infestation is recent or established

That tells us what will actually stop it.

When Heat Treatment Is the Right Call

Heat is best when:

• The infestation is localized but active
• The structure allows even heat penetration
• The client needs same-day control
• There’s minimal risk of spread from other units

Heat works by raising the temperature high enough to kill bed bugs at all life stages in a single visit. When done correctly, it’s decisive.

Where heat fails:

• Units next door still have bed bugs
• Heavy clutter blocks heat flow
• Infestations hidden inside walls or shared infrastructure

Heat kills what’s there that day. It does not protect against what comes back later.

When Aprehend Outperforms Heat

Aprehend shines when:

• Bed bugs may be coming from another unit
• Long-term protection matters more than speed
• The infestation is light but persistent
• You want a treatment that keeps working after we leave

Aprehend uses a fungal biopesticide that bed bugs pick up and spread to each other. We’ve seen it quietly wipe out infestations that heat alone couldn’t keep down.

Where Aprehend struggles:

• Severe, widespread infestations needing immediate knockdown
• Homes where people expect instant visual results

This is not a spray-and-pray product. It’s a strategy.

What We See Most in Central Virginia

In this region, many infestations:

• Start from travel or guests
• Spread through shared walls
• Get worse after DIY attempts

That’s why we often recommend:

• Heat + Aprehend together, or
• Aprehend as a follow-up where reinfestation risk is high

The goal isn’t just killing bed bugs. It’s keeping them gone.

Will Either Treatment Damage My Home? When done by trained professionals: No.

We monitor temperatures, protect sensitive items, and apply Aprehend only to targeted areas. Damage happens when treatments are rushed, poorly planned, or done by someone unfamiliar with the structure.

Do You Have to Leave During Treatment?

Sometimes. Sometimes not.

• Heat treatment usually requires temporary relocation
• Aprehend applications often do not

This depends on layout, airflow, and treatment scope—not a blanket rule.

The Bottom Line

There is no “best” treatment in isolation.

There is only:

• The right method
• Applied at the right time
• For the right structure

 

That’s how infestations actually end…